Chapter Text
October 1st, 1810
The beginning of fall was the beginning of new beginnings. Ball’s were in planning, fruits were blooming, and engagements were in season. The young women of Hertfordshire rejoice in the gossip of love proposals and scandals. Their mothers will prepare them best to modestly seduce financially stable bachelors. The women had no choice but to be alluring, mannerly, and quiet when a man was speaking. When a woman is proposed to she becomes financially safe, older unmarried women had horrid reputations and were often poor. Oh, what an experience it must have been to be a young woman in nineteenth-century Hertfordshire.
Crunchy orange leaves crackle under the hooves of horses carrying crates of freshly fallen apples. A young woman with a brown sack offers twenty whole dollars for ten fresh apples, but the traveling salesman refuses and insists on twenty-five.
Makkari was sent out with thirty dollars tasked with buying one pumpkin, and ten apples. Her father was anticipating making an apple pie and a pumpkin pie for the honorary start of the fall banquet hosted every year by the neighborhood. Makkari had unfortunately already spent ten dollars on a book from an antique store she ‘had to’ visit; she loved to converse with the elderly hard of hearing owner Mrs. Goodwin who had presented her with the latest gossip every Sunday she visited.
With only twenty dollars in hand, Makkari settled with only seven apples for her remaining money and started her way home, creating an excuse on how she was unable to attain ten apples and how she could not find somewhere to buy pumpkins. The banquet was on Wednesday and it was currently Sunday, her father had time to acquire more apples and a pumpkin before then, but she still felt bad for secretly wasting money on her book. The path home from town was not short, not long, but took time. During her walk, Makkari decided to read the entire way back. It was reckless considering she was completely invested in the novel not looking up to see where she was going but she knew the general path by heart.
The house of Thena, Gilgamesh, and their three daughters, was fairly large; they had maids, and gardeners, no cooks because Gilgamesh insisted on cooking. They were well off considering money but the daughters would not inherit the estate when their parents passed. The estate would be given to a man named Kingo who was Thena and Gilgamesh’s nephew. The estate could not be legally owned by a woman so the estate will be passed to the closest male relative.
When Makkari arrives home to her sister, Sersi eavesdropping on her parents talking in their father's office. She is intently leaning against the door with her ear pushed to the crack. Sersi looks over noticing she came back with a book in her hand instead of a pumpkin and gives Makkari a quizzical brow. Makkari tries to hide the book but fails.
'Please do not tell.' Makkari signs, Sersi nods and then turns back to leaning against the crack of the door. 'What is happening?' Makkari signs while putting the brown sack of apples on a nearby couch and putting the book in her right hand, then walking back to the living room where Sersi was.
'Two rich eligible men are staying in Hertfordshire.' Sersi signs while giggling. Makkari smiles at her.
'Oh yes, Mrs. Goodwin informed me they are going to the banquet on Wednesday, only staying for a limited amount of time. two men and one woman.' Sersi is filled with joy on her face even though it is clear she is trying to hide it.
'According to what I’ve heard from mother and father, One of the men is named Ikaris and he makes five hundred thousand a year. He is here with his cousin who I did not catch the name of and his aunt. We must ask father to introduce us at the banquet.'
Makkari nods and lays on the couch to continue reading while Sersi continues to listen in on the conversation in the office. After about thirty seconds the youngest sister, Sprite walks into the living room.
'Makkari you are back, how was it?' Sprite signs while opening the brown sack. Where is the pumpkin and why are there only seven apples? Makkari places down her book on her chest
'You are quite the observer, aren’t you? I couldn’t afford to buy ten apple’s and I could not find a large enough pumpkin.'
'Sure, what is she doing?' Sprite asks, referencing Sersi.
'Bachelors are in town, wealthy bachelors who are coming to the banquet, Sersi wishes to meet them.' Sprite nods in understanding and then also goes to listen to herself. She nudges Sersi aside to let her listen. Makkari goes back to reading.
'Are those my daughters, I hear?' Gilgamesh signs while opening the door.
'Hello, father.' Makkari signs and stands up to hug him as they all do.
'Father, please introduce us to Ikaris at the banquet.' Sersi expresses jumping right to the point. Gilgamesh goes to say something but their mother interrupts.
'Ikaris is a very nice man, his aunt is an old friend of mine. Her son is also very agreeable and sophisticated' Thena states while walking out of the office. 'So yes we were already planning on introducing all of you to Ikaris, Ajak, and the son Druig,' Thena smiles while letting her children know because she knows this brings them excitement and anticipation.
Sersi beams embracing the entire family, Sprite has a look of clear excitement on her face and Makkari smiles at her sisters' excitement. She is also anticipating the wealthy young men but does a better job at hiding it. What a night it will be, full of fun, music, dancing, good food, joy, and young men.